Alejandro Valverde soloed to victory in San Sebastian today having left his break away companions in the closing kilometres.
The Spaniard recorded his second win in the Spanish one-day classic, beating a host of other riders who had come out of the Tour de France with good form. Valverde, who faded in the final week of the Tour, eventually losing his podium spot, beat Belkin's Bauke Mollema, Joaquim Rodriguez and Mikel Nieve by 14 seconds having ridden the final 14 kilometres on his own.
Another group of three, including French hero Tony Gallopin, trailed in another 12 seconds behind them.
Having pulled the lead group of five clear on the final climb, Valverde then attacked on the descent. It was here that Orica's Adam Yates, back racing after a mid-season break from racing, crashed. Initial reports say the British neo-pro is okay and the fact he made the lead group bodes well for his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a Espana at the end of the month.
Adam Yates crashes on the final descent, snapping his forks and taking him out of contention
(Image credit: Graham Watson)
RESULT
Clasica San Sebastian (Esp) 219km
1. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar 5:31:11
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2. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin +0.14 sec
3. Joaquim Rodriguez (Esp) Katusha +0.14 sec
4. Mikel Nieve (Esp) Sky +0.14 sec
5. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Belisol +0.26 sec
6. Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto-Belisol +0.26 sec
7. Haimar Zubeldia (Esp) Trek Factory Racing +0.26 sec
Editor of Cycling Weekly magazine, Simon has been working at the title since 2001. He fell in love with cycling 1989 when watching the Tour de France on Channel 4, started racing in 1995 and in 2000 he spent one season racing in Belgium. During his time at CW (and Cycle Sport magazine) he has written product reviews, fitness features, pro interviews, race coverage and news. He has covered the Tour de France more times than he can remember along with two Olympic Games and many other international and UK domestic races. He became the 130-year-old magazine's 13th editor in 2015.
